Packers' offensive line rolls with several punches in Week 1

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Good old-fashioned talent plays a role, too. Jenkins' all-rookie honors at left guard last season came after he finished his college career at Mississippi State as a two-year starter at center. He switched to right tackle and back to guard so seamlessly Sunday there isn't a position on the line LaFleur believes he can't play.


Linsley called him "a natural offensive lineman," and he could prove to be an even more invaluable piece as the Packers work on getting Turner and Patrick healthy again.


"He's a guy that just is unfazed in the face of adversity or in the heat of the battle," LaFleur said. "He never flinches, and that's such a credit to him and how he's prepared himself to be the player he's become."


Wagner came to Green Bay as a free agent with 87 NFL starts to his credit for Baltimore and Detroit. He missed some time with an elbow injury in training camp but looked no worse for wear Sunday, going up against new Vikings pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue on occasion.


Wagner's experience and others' versatility gives the Packers options moving forward. Wagner could hold down the right tackle spot for now, with Turner (when healthy) playing right guard as he did last year. Or Turner might take back right tackle with Patrick (when healthy) or the rookie Runyan taking over at right guard.


However it shakes out, Runyan's NFL debut was as encouraging as it was unexpected. Moving to the right side after playing almost exclusively left guard throughout training camp, on top of not having any preseason games nor taking any 11-on-11 snaps with the starting unit last month, created a significant challenge, but he answered the call.


Forgive the former All-Big Ten tackle from Michigan if he was a tad awestruck as well, stepping into the huddle with Rodgers in Week 1 as a rookie.


"It's insane," Runyan said. "I remember being in eighth grade and watching Aaron win the Super Bowl. I was sitting there on my couch. Now I got thrown in my first NFL game I ever dressed, I'm in charge of protecting him.


"It's kind of crazy how life works sometimes. That was my first snaps with the first-team offense, first snaps with Aaron, with all the guys."